cheek

[cheek]

noun

1. either side of the face below the eye and above the jaw.

2. the side wall of the mouth between the upper and lower jaws.

3. something resembling the side of the human face in form or position, as either of two parts forming corresponding sides of various objects.

   the cheeks of a vise.

4. impudence or effrontery.

   He's got a lot of cheek to say that to me!

   Synonyms: gall, brass, audacity, nerve

5. Slang.,  either of the buttocks.

6. Architecture.

   1. one side of an opening, as a reveal.

   2. either of two similar faces of a projection, as a buttress or dormer.

7. Carpentry.

   1. a piece of wood removed from the end of a timber in making a tenon.

   2. a piece of wood on either side of a mortise.

8. one side of a hammer head.

9. Horology.,  one of two pieces placed on both sides of the suspension spring of a pendulum to control the amplitude of oscillation or to give the arc of the pendulum a cycloidal form.

10. one of the two main vertical supports forming the frame of a hand printing press.

11. Machinery.,  either of the sides of a pulley or block.

12. Nautical.,  either of a pair of fore-and-aft members at the lower end of the head of a lower mast, used to support trestletrees which in turn support a top and often the heel of a topmast; one of the hounds of a lower mast.

13. Metallurgy.,  any part of a flask between the cope and the drag.

cheek

/ tʃiːk /

noun

1. 1. either side of the face, esp that part below the eye

   2. either side of the oral cavity; side of the mouth

2. informal,  impudence; effrontery

3. informal,  (often plural) either side of the buttocks

4. (often plural) a side of a door jamb

5. nautical one of the two fore-and-aft supports for the trestletrees on a mast of a sailing vessel, forming part of the hounds

6. one of the jaws of a vice

7. close together; intimately linked

8. to be submissive and refuse to retaliate even when provoked or treated badly

9. See tongue

verb

1. informal,  (tr) to speak or behave disrespectfully to; act impudently towards

Other Word Forms

• cheekless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheek¹

before 900; Middle English cheke, Old English cē ( a ) ce; akin to Dutch kaak, Middle Low German kake

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheek¹

Old English ceace; related to Middle Low German kāke, Dutch kaak

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (with) tongue in cheek. tongue.

2. cheek by jowl, in close intimacy; side by side.

   a row of houses cheek by jowl.

More idioms and phrases containing cheek

• tongue in cheek
• turn the other cheek

Example Sentences

Tole suffered a laceration on his left cheek and was taken to a different hospital than Sanchez, the affidavit said.

From Los Angeles Times

Beneath the protective embrace of her brothers, Caroline, leaning forward, kisses Gisèle on the cheek.

From BBC

Essay Topic: Which saying do you find the most offensive and probably created by the radical left — turn the other cheek, or treat others as you would have them treat you?

From Los Angeles Times

Potential donors send off a cheek swab sample and wait to see if they are a match for anyone.

From BBC

However, he reiterated that details of any athletes who may have been prevented from competing as a result of the test, carried out via cheek swab, will remain confidential.

From BBC

Related Words

• lip